Sao Paulo striker Alexandre Pato has revealed Manchester United made a last-minute offer to sign him on transfer deadline dayGetty

Sao Paulo forward Alexandre Pato has admitted that Manchester United tried to sign him during the final hours of the summer transfer window. The Brazilian international, who is on loan from Corinthians has confirmed an approach from the Red Devils on transfer deadline day, but the move failed to materialise as the striker was not aware when the offer was made

The former AC Milan forward was heavily linked with a move back to Europe after he expressed a desire to once again play in the Champions League. However, despite being linked with clubs in Spain and England, a move failed to materialise and the forward will remain with his current club until his loan expires in December.

Pato has admitted that he would like to remain with Sao Paulo, but with his contract with Corinthians expiring in 2016, the striker lacks clarity regarding his plans for the future. However, he is confident that his agent and family will do what is best for his career, while insisting that his focus is completely with his current employers until December at least.

"I won't lie, two hours before closing [the transfer window] I had a very nice offer from Manchester United. I was expecting it, but I only knew after when they commented. But my focus now is here. I am working to do my best and possibly stay at Sao Paulo," Pato said, as quoted by ESPN FC.

"I won't lie to you that I think yes [about the future]. I see with my family, with the people closest to me, we talk about what will happen, how it will happen, what will be next year. It's only a few months, we don't count December, so it's not a long time."

"But I am working, I'm very focused on Sao Paulo, I can't stop thinking of my future, but my focus is Sao Paulo. I would really like to stay, but that doesn't depend only on me. I have to do my work, my agent and my family takes good care of these things, they want the best for me and the club, and I'm very professional, I always work focused, trying my best not to think," the former AC Milan forward added.

The 20-time English Champions eventually, after much speculation, made a shock move for AS Monaco forward Anthony Martial, who joined the Old Trafford club for a reported fee of around £36m ($54.8m). The French forward has been a revelation and has already scored four goals in as many games to begin his United career in fine fashion.